When I started blogging from abroad, my intention was to keep my posts general enough that all future-abroaders could find them somewhat useful. I’ve realized, though, that many of my posts are specific to Antibes, so ... if you’re planning on studying in the French Riviera through CEA, enjoy!

Last week, my parents and I shared a week full of relaxing walks, home-cooked food, and lots of Netflix. I know you probably can’t tell from that description, but we spent this last week in Antibes! Indeed, my parents finally came to visit me.

What’s cooler than studying on a different continent?  Vacationing on yet another!

I haven’t forgotten abut you, UMass.

One of my best friends is graduating a year early and will be walking in this year's graduation. Of course, I plan on being there to watch her walk (jet-lagged, but proud). As an added bonus, I will be getting paid to do it!

Whenever I FaceTime home, I immediately ask to see my dog. (Sorry Mom and Dad.) I’m just extremely pet-deprived here.

Since I only have classes on Wednesday and Thursday, I have a lot of free time on my hands. Don't get me wrong. When life is super busy, I cherish free time. However, when I have too ~little~ to do, I get anxious.  

Feeding yourself is an extremely important aspect of adulting.

Since I've been abroad, I have realized how spoiled I am by UMass dining halls. There are always freshly chopped vegetables in the stir-fry line, full cooked meals, and made-to-order sushi. In France, I have a grocery store and a kitchen. After eating pasta and pain-au-chocolat for a few weeks, I decided that I needed to start eating healthier meals.

The French Riviera, Italian Riviera, and Northern Spain are some of the most popular destinations for students studying abroad. Each destination has different, but equally amazing, aspects.

What does a student studying in France eat for dinner? If you guessed escargot, baguettes, cheese, and wine, you’re wrong. We actually eat…pizza!

During my first week in France, I quickly learned that English and French do not directly translate. Before I hopefully give you a chuckle at my own expense, here’s a quick language crash course. In French,  “Je” means “I,” and “chaud(e)” means “hot.”  The verb “Être” means “to be,” and “suis” is the “I-“ form— so “Je suis,” means “I am.” The verb “Avoir” means “to have,” and “ai” is the “I-“ form— so “J’ai (Je+ai),” means “I have.” 

This past weekend, I visited some buddies from UMass in Florence, Italy. This was one of the other places where I had considered studying, so I was super excited to check it out. Florence and Antibes are not far from each other. My flight there took just a little over an hour, and my bus back was a five-hour redeye, so I went to sleep in Florence and woke up in Antibes. Easy breezy.

Funny story. I almost had to write a 40-page single-spaced page paper while abroad. Why? Because I accidentally enrolled myself into the SKEMA Business Program Thesis class! To be fair, the course was called “Business Research.” So I thought, "Hey, I’m studying business. Hey, I like research!"  Long story short, I talked to the business program director, and he generously removed me from the roster. With about two full weeks worth of free time returned to me, I booked some exciting trips that I want to share.

Ah, Valentine’s Day. The day when couples flock to social media to declare their love, and singles avoid it like the plague. Sure, having a best friend for life sounds great, but so does being able to do whatever you want whenever you want. Being single enables you to learn to love yourself, appreciate non-romantic relationships, and independently grow. Being single on Valentine’s Day shouldn't be pitied, it should be celebrated as well.

Most online abroad check lists will tell you to bring a variety of shoes, clothing layers, converters ... the necessities.  Here are four things that didn't make it into my suitcase that I wish I had brought!

Thank you …

For allowing me to FaceTime my parents, my dog, and my friends (in no particular order). Thank you for allowing me to see the enormous piles of snow in my backyard at home (and reminding me I could be there too, and to stop complaining the weather when it’s 50 degrees and partly sunny).

After spending two-and-a-half years on the UMass Amherst campus, I thought I had my navigation skills down. I was wrong. The Skema campus, where I'm studying this semester, is built into the beautiful landscape of Sophia Antipolis, France. There are three main buildings: Skema 1, 2, and 3. From my understanding, Skema 1 has more administrative offices and big lecture halls. Skema 2 is the business school (where most of my classes are), and Skema 3 has more classrooms and study space. There are also student dorms, all of which are single apartments.  

My apartment in Antibes is located in a residential building, just across the street from the ocean. From our third-floor balcony, we can see the ocean and enjoy the late afternoon sun. Every roommate group in CEA has an apartment in a different building in the town, and I have come to love mine. 

Imagine this: You're running on two hours of sleep in the past 36 hours, everyone around you is speaking a foreign language, and you have 30 minutes to navigate an enormous airport to make your connecting flight...

Anna here! I still can't believe I’m saying this, but I will be spending the next four months studying at an international business school on the French Riviera! As a result, the theme of my blog posts this semester will be my experiences abroad. My hope is for you to live vicariously through me, until you are able to embark on an international adventure of your own.

I’m rich! I feel like that businessman you see in movies at a fancy restaurant, who nonchalantly says to the waiter, “Put it all on my tab.” I bet you’re wondering how I could possibly be saying I’m rich when by bank account is in the double digits...

My first two years here, only one of my friends had a car on campus. Getting to borrow it felt was like winning the lottery! Being new to the area, there were so many towns with cute cafes, stores, and museums to explore. Of course, when I didn't have it, I was still able to get off campus by taking a PTVA bus or Ubering. 

The College of Social Behavioral Sciences has an amazing program that connects current UMass students with UMass alumni working in Washington, D.C., for an unforgettable summer internship. This year, "SBS in DC" students can land an internship in a congressional office, lobbying firm, or a non-profit advocacy organization. This program really hooks it up. SBS in D.C. covers housing costs at the Washington Intern Student Housing on Capitol Hill, and also offers one academic credit. Additional funding to cover transportation, food, metro card, and other expenses are available based on financial need.

These days, most colleges — including UMass — use a holistic admissions review. This means that prospective students are seen as more than just numbers on paper. Factors like personal experiences, strengths, and compatibility with the university are also considered. So, how do you use this to your advantage? You write an unforgettable essay that makes you stand out to admissions officers. Here are some tips to do just that:

If you haven't noticed by now, the Campus Recreation Center (Rec) is probably my favorite place on campus.  Besides being a playground for a gym-lover like me, it also has Courtside Café, which is located in the lobby of the campus-side entrance.

You know that feeling when you’re carrying a huge load of laundry, and a sock falls out? And then you reach down to pick it up, and a t-shirt begins to fall out? And then, as you scramble to stop the t-shirt from falling out, your pile of clothes combusts and you’re just standing there, defeated, with a pile of clean clothes sprawled across a dirty floor?

Are you more of an “early bird gets the worm” or a “worm that sleeps in doesn't get eaten” kind of person?  If you’re the former, you should definitely consider taking some 8 a.m. classes during your college career. If you’re on the fence, here are some pros and cons:

I lived in Southwest Residential Area towers my first two years of college (Kennedy Tower my freshman year and Washington Tower my sophomore year). When I first toured UMass, I remember feeling as if these giant, concrete buildings were looming over me. From one of the high floors, someone yelled “PICK UMASS!” At the time, I was slightly intimidated by the aggressively enthusiastic Southwest population. However after two years, I have come to love this corner of campus.

This might sound a little sad, but I’m convinced my dorm room was a huge reason I was able to make friends so fast my freshman year. Ok, yeah, now that I’ve typed it and re-read it, it's definitely not the most conventional brag. Nonetheless, it’s been almost three years and I’m still proud of what I was able to pull off.